Delay detonator with by-pass explosive bolt system

ABSTRACT

A system for the removal of an attachment from one end of a detonating device prior to the detonation of the main charge.

UnitedStates Patent 1 [111 3,792,662

Wolterman 1 Feb. 19, 1974 DELAY DETONATOR WITH BY-PASS [56] References Cited EXPLOSWE BOLT SYSTEM UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: William G- Wolterman, Hunt g n 2,803,807 8 1957 Butler 340/8 Beach, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as Primary ExaminerBenjamin Bofchelt represented by the secreal-y f the Assistant ExaminerThomas H. Webb Army, Washington, DC. Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Edward J. Kelly; Herbert 22 Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 A system for the removal of an attachment from one [52] US. Cl. 102/70 R, 102/70 C end of a detonating device prior to the detonation f [51] Int. Cl F42c 15/36, F42b 23/24, F42d l/02 the main charge [58] Field of Search 102/70 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures T i 5 33 l j 'q/la I All 1 f I '\/3| l I i 4 PAIENIED FEB I 9 i974 snmxur FIG.

DELAY DETONATOR WITH BY-PASS EXPLOSIVE BOLT SYSTEM This invention relates to a delay detonator and more specifically to a delay detonator in combination with a by-pass explosive bolt system.

In certain projectiles, e.g., artillery, an attachment is utilized in combination with a detonator stem in a fuze mechanism for stabilization purposes. It is desirable to remove the attachment prior to final functioning of the detonator system because of the detrimental effects of weight or over-blance. The removal of the attachment, e.g., a volute spring, is accomplished in the present invention by explosive bolt means prior to the detonation of the main charge explosive.

It is an object of the invention to provide and disclose a novel detonating system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide and disclose a novel detonating system including an explosive bolt component.

It is a further object of the invention to provide and disclose explosive bolt means for the removal of attachments to a detonator stem prior to the detonation of the main charge.

It is a further object of the invention to provide and disclose a novel detonation system wherein a base charge ignites the explosive bolt charge and at the same time ignites a lower exposed pyrotechnic delay train of a main charge.

Other objects and a better understanding of the invention may be ascertained by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the present device in a charged condition.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of certain components of the present system.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the present device.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the present system comprises mating detonator tube 11 having a cylindrical configuration. Tube 11 comprises reduced upper segment 13 having exteriorly threaded portion 15 thereon and main charge chamber 17 at the bottom thereof. Bore 19, which extends from chamber 17 through reduced upper segment 13, comprises slotted segment 21. Top cap 23 comprises interiorly threaded bore 25, which is designed to be compatible with exteriorly threaded segment 15 of mating detonator tube 11. Reduced segment 13 is slotted to receive the mating part of volute spring 27, comprising a tab, which is inserted into slot 21 and then crimped and/or spot welded, designated 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Flash tube 29, comprising bore 31, is positioned axially in chamber 17 and bore 19 of mating detonator tube 11. The above components are positioned in housing 24 as shown in FIG. 1.

Illustrative, but without limitations, an exemplary device in accordance with the present invention comprises a mating detonator tube having a height of about 1 inch, a chamber of about 0. 19 inch in width and 0.45 inch in height, and a bore of 0.07 inch in diameter. An exemplary flash tube has a height of about 0.82 inch and an inside diameter of about 0.046 inch. Other components are designed to be compatible therewith.

In an exemplary chargedsystem, about 0.073 grams of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), designated 33, which has been consolidated at about 15,000 psi to an pp oxim t dens ty 9 .1567 snqrwit qnsd flustxln the uppermost portion of bore 31 of flash-tube 31. About 0.0062 grams of lead azide, designated 35, which has been consolidated at about 15,000 psi to an approximate density of about 3.07 is positioned in bore 31 immediately below RDX 33. About 0.073 grams of RDX (37), consolidated at about 15,000 psi; about 0.090 grams of lead azide (39) consolidated at about 15,000 psi;and about 0. l 17 grams of delay composition (41), consolidated at about 20,000, psi respectively, are positioned immediately adjacent in chamber 17 of mating detonator tube 11. The delay composition is composed of about 89% baruim chromate, about 10% boron and about I percent by weight vinyl alcohol acetate resin.

In operation primer assembly 43, which is positioned below the detonator assembly, is fired; e.g., on impact of the detonator containing missile. The resulting flash travels up bore 31 of flash tube 29 to ignite lead azide 35 at the same time the lower exposed surface of delay composition is ignited. The lead azide in turn initinates the ignitation of RDX 33 and the resulting detonation shears off volute spring 27. Preliminary testing shows that the explosive bolt function occurs nominally 0.0003 seconds after the primer or base charge function. The annular volume of delay composition 41 continues to burn and ignites the lead azide, which in turn detonates RDX 37. The present system is set for detonation of the main charge 0.07 seconds after the removal of the volute spring.

The functioning of the explosive bolt portion does not affect the timing characteristic of the delay train below it. In addition, the detonator threads into line and once in position it is in a free spinning condition because of the undercut behind the detonator threads. The explosive bolt detonator also flares the cutoff face of the stem so that the detonator is secured in the in line position.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tail-separating detonator assembly for use in stabilization assisted projectiles comprising a dual action detonator in combination with a tail component, said assembly comprising a tubular member having a first detonating charge at one end thereof and a second detonating charge having a delay composition incorporated therewith located at the opposite end of the tubular member and being out of alignment with the first charge located at the opposite end of the tubular member, means for attaching the detonator to a projectile, said tail component being connected to the assembly at the end of the tubular member adjacent the first charge, whereby upon simultaneous ignition of the first charge and the delay composition to the second charge, the first charge shears the tail component from the detonator assembly before the second charge is ignited.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tail component is a volute spring.

3. A tail-separating detonator assembly for use in stabilization assisted projectiles comprising a dual action detonator in combination with a tail component, said assembly comprising a tubular member having a first detonating charge at one end thereof and a second detonating charge at the opposite end thereof, said first charge being positioned in the interior of the tubular member and said second charge being positioned on the exterior of the tubular member, a delay firing composition associated with the second detonating charge, tail means mounted on the exterior of the tubular member adjacent the first detonating charge and separable from the tube by the explosive force of the first detonating charge, projectile mounting means on said tubular member intermediate said tail means and said detonating charge whereby when the assembly is placed on the projectile, the tail means and first detonating means are located at the rear end of the projectile and the second detonating means is located inside of the projectile with the tubular member in axial alignment with the projectile primer so that upon firing the primer, the first detonating means is exploded and the delay firing composition is ignited. 

1. A tail-separating detonator assembly for use in stabilization assisted projectiles comprising a dual action detonator in combination with a tail component, said assembly comprising a tubular member having a first detonating charge at one end thereof and a second detonating charge having a delay composition incorporated therewith located at the opposite end of the tubular member and being out of alignment with the first charge located at the opposite end of the tubular member, means for attaching the detonator to a projectile, said tail component being connected to the assembly at the end of the tubular member adjacent the first charge, whereby upon simultaneous ignition of the first charge and the delay composition to the second charge, the first charge shears the tail component from the detonator assembly before the second charge is ignited.
 2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tail component is a volute spring.
 3. A tail-separating detonator assembly for use in stabilization assisted projectiles comprising a dual action detonator in combination with a tail component, said assembly comprising a tubular member having a first detonating charge at one end thereof and a second detonating charge at the opposite end thereof, said first charge being positioned in the interior of the tubular member and said second charge being positioned on the exterior of the tubular member, a delay firing composition associated with the second detonating charge, tail means mounted on the exterior of the tubular member adjacent the first detonating charge and separable from the tube by the explosive force of the first detonating charge, projectile mounting means on said tubular member intermediate said tail means and said detonating charge whereby when the assembly is placed oN the projectile, the tail means and first detonating means are located at the rear end of the projectile and the second detonating means is located inside of the projectile with the tubular member in axial alignment with the projectile primer so that upon firing the primer, the first detonating means is exploded and the delay firing composition is ignited. 